A facile method for rejuvenating the bonding efficacy of root canal sealer-smeared dentine.

OBJECTIVES

To examine the efficacy of glycine powder air-polishing on cleaning root canal sealer-smeared dentine.

METHODS

Dentine surfaces were contaminated with a smear of epoxy resin-based sealer or tricalcium silicate-based sealer. The contaminated surfaces were cleaned with saline, 75% ethanol, or air-polishing with glycine powder. Uncontaminated dentine was used as the control. The cleanliness of pulpal floor dentine was examined using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. The effectiveness of the three cleaning protocols was examined by testing the tensile bond strength of a self-etching adhesive to the decontaminated dentine. Resin infiltration into the dentinal tubules was identified using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM).

RESULTS

Morphological examination and elemental analysis indicated that glycine powder air-polishing was more effective in removing the two sealers. Tensile bond strength of adhesive-bonded dentine was significantly reduced when either sealer was cleaned with saline or ethanol. Conversely, air-polishing restored the adhesive strength of the sealer-smeared dentine to the level of the control. Longer and denser resin tags were identified with CLSM when sealers were removed with air-polishing.

CONCLUSIONS

Air-polishing with glycine powder was effective in cleaning sealer-smeared dentine, as demonstrated by the rejuvenation of the tensile bond strength of a self-etching adhesive to the decontaminated dentine.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Glycine powder air-polishing improves the cleanliness of root canal sealer-smeared dentine and rejuvenates adhesive bonding effectiveness.